Triumph Oil Co. - 1867 dated Pennsylvania Oil Stock Certificate (Uncanceled)

Stock printed by Wm. Schuchman & Co. Lith. Pittsburgh. 25 cents Washington Revenue stamp! Small ink smudge.

The oil rush in America commenced in Titusville, Pennsylvania, within the Oil Creek Valley, when Edwin L. Drake discovered “rock oil” there in 1859. Titusville and neighboring towns along Oil Creek experienced rapid expansion as oil wells and refineries proliferated across the region. Oil swiftly became one of the most valuable commodities in the United States, leading to the expansion of railroads into Western Pennsylvania for transporting petroleum to other parts of the country. By the mid-1870s, the oil industry had established itself, and the “rush” to drill wells and control production had come to an end. Pennsylvania’s oil production reached its peak in 1891 and was later surpassed by Western states like Texas and California. However, some oil industry remains in Pennsylvania.

Prior to its use as a fuel, oil had numerous applications. In Pennsylvania, Native American tribes had been utilizing oil from seeps for several centuries. Early European explorers discovered evidence of troughs alongside the creek where Native American tribes had collected oil for various purposes, such as ointment, insect repellent, skin coloring, and religious ceremonies. These oil seeps, which are areas where oil spontaneously escapes the earth in gaseous or liquid form, were prevalent in northern Pennsylvania. As the frontier expanded into Western Pennsylvania during the 18th century, the region gained recognition for its oil beneath its surface, and maps of the era depicted the label “Petroleum.” Initially, crude oil had limited uses, primarily serving as a deterrent to farmers who found the black soil unsuitable for their crops. Later, other applications became apparent. Crude oil began to replace whale oil as a source of light, and inventors and scientists conducted experiments to explore its potential for various uses, including energy.

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